What Goes Around, Comes Around…

A few years ago, I was shooting motor sports for fun and posting my pictures on Flickr. The response was unexpected; first an email from a driver’s fan club, then a note from someone in Europe. Next thing I know, a magazine in the UK is asking for permission to use my images in an article on Formula One racing. I thought that I might have a future in this photography thing. More interest and emails from nice people with nice things to say. I decided to take the plunge and get a domain name. My last name, La Presle, (pronounced la prell) confuses a lot of people so I tried to come up with something else. I settled on Icon Exposures and moved forward.

At the same time, Ann Choo was looking for someone to help with the photography for her wedding. I love weddings. I love photography. I’m free that day. It will be fun to shoot something new. I’ve never shot a wedding before. I’ll send Anna a note. Long story short, Anna asked me to help out with the photography for her wedding. Little did I know that as I was capturing the start of a new family, I was also starting a new career. Weddings were everything I love and I felt like I was the luckiest guy on earth whenever I was asked to document the start of a family. As my business grew and I made a name for myself, Icon Exposures didn’t feel right. I always felt like I needed to explain the name and as time went by, I realized I was ready for a change. My photography also changed. I started as a wedding photographer. Then my couples were calling me back to shoot their maternity pictures. After the babies were born, they were asking me to take family portraits. Through each phase of their life, they were asking me to contribute to their family history. Weddings, pregnancy, babies, families… Everything centered on people loving each other. People were passing my name around and I decided to change from Icon Exposures.com to Kevin La Presle.com. It’s still me, but it’s a better fit and when my new website is up and running, it will show more of my work. So for now, please bear with me as I change things. I’ll start blogging again and my blog will slowly evolve. My old website will take you to my new website and the old emails will still come to me. I’ve come along way from Anna and Mike’s wedding. Fast forward to now and my first client, Anna Choo is now my friend Anna Elmers. She’s still just as warm and kind; still just as pretty. Her husband Mike is still the consummate gentleman and they have two beautiful girls. They are a family.

And I am a Kevin La Presle, I photograph people in love.

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Punkins…

Our neighbors, Erik and Megan invited us over for dinner and pumpkin carving. They’re such great friends and their family is such a blessing to our lives. They have two kids; Colby, age 2 and Bennett, 3 months old. Colby can throw 90 mph fastballs, leap tall buildings and is indestructible. Pure boy. Bennett is the sweetest little guy, a little bean that’s so pure and innocent. Anyhow, the Pretty One and I strolled over (we’ve worn a path between our two homes) and watched the kids, Erik and Colby, carve pumpkins. It’s times like these that I wish I could remember what it was like when our kids were that age. Time rips by without regard for our wishes or desires, it’s a train blowing through town and it’s not stopping for anyone… Anyhow the kids came out just fine, apparently my ability to recollect pumpkin carving has no bearing on what kind of person they turn out to be. I couldn’t be more proud of them.

So, as usual, I am rambling. Here are some pictures of a couple of wonderful, innocent kids. One hasn’t a care in the world, all he wants is to be held. The other’s only concern is his pumpkin and fireman costume. Here’s to being a kid and being loved by those around you, it doesn’t get any better.

It's Halloween

Getting Busy

Getting Busy

Very scary....

Very scary....

Colby, Bennett and Megan

Colby, Bennett and Megan

No comment needed...

No comment needed...

Too bad he's not having fun

Too bad he's not having fun

Just chillin'...

Just chillin'...

The final inspection

The final inspection

Megan holding Bennett

Megan holding Bennett

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Suzanne and Michael, the wedding…

What a great day. Suzanne and Michael’s wedding in Pescadero. Summer on the coast, happy people everywhere. Love in the air, family, friends, food, drink, music… How does it get any better?

This is why I love what I do. I’m a sucker for this romance stuff, (I always get choked up during the father-daughter dance…. Someday that will be me and my angel) There is so much joy and love where ever you look. Anyhow, as much as I love doing this, I couldn’t have done it without Jo Ann. (Understatement of the year…) I love shooting weddings with her, she’s so gifted. I can’t believe I ever shot a wedding without her…

Anyhow, as I’m writing this, the Pretty One and I just ticked off another year. We’ve been married 28 years (and a few days now) and as I watch Michael dip Suzanne for “The Kiss” I am so honored to be there. I know where this goes, I’ve seen this movie before and I’m so excited for them. I think marriage is a roller coaster. There’s the wait in line, wishing it would get here soon. The boring part where you’re slowly pulled uphill, waiting for the fun stuff. Then the rush of wind in your face as you crest the top and scream for joy. You’re flying along, having the time of your life when suddenly  that hard turn that comes out of nowhere and snaps you around. Once, twice, taking you places you didn’t imagine. Some you like, some you don’t. But you stick it out and eventually the ride comes back around to where you started and that’s when she kisses you and you know that getting on this ride was the right thing to do.

And you never want to get off.

Thanks for letting me ramble. Here are a few images from their day.

welcome

welcome

some details

some details

an invitation

an invitation

One of the nicest guys you will ever meet

One of the nicest guys you will ever meet

Could she be any prettier? Any nicer?

Could she be any prettier? Any nicer?
His and hers...

His and hers...

Needs no comment...

Needs no comment...

That's love.

That's love.

The reception

The reception

The happy couple

The happy couple

Good times

Good times

Does anyone else hear Etta James signing "At Last"?

Does anyone else hear Etta James signing "At Last"?

Thanks for letting me be a part of your day.

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Suzanne and Michael with help from Ernest and Luna…

I’m the lucky guy that gets to shoot Suzanne and Michael’s wedding this September. They’re getting married at a friend’s farm near the coast and it’s going to be amazing. How can it not be? Look at them. We shot the engagement pictures in their backyard with the help of Luna and Ernest, two very good dogs. The dogs behaved better than Suzanne and Michael; hard to be a serious photographer when the two of them are constantly making each other laugh, kissing, holding hands… They have too much fun together. Anyhow, we left the backyard and went to the Yuba River, then it was off to California’s oldest covered bridge. Along the way, I saw this old building next to a field and the light looked so warm and inviting. I asked if we could stop and get some pictures and that’s where the last couple were shot. They are so perfect for each other, it’s going to be a joy being around them. Enjoy these for now, I’ll put up some more in the next week or so. Thanks Suzanne and Michael for being so much fun to be around.

Good dog...

Suzanne and Michael

Suzanne and Michael

Suzanne and Michael

“How delicious is the winning of a kiss at love’s beginning.”  I think this quote by Thomas Campbell sums up this last picture.

He doesn't look too happy...

As always, I appreciate you stopping by. Thanks!

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Jackie and Brad

Spring is here and with it comes the start of the wedding season. Slowly the calender is filling up and I’m getting excited for all of my couples. I love hearing about their plans and dreams. I sort of remember ours, I guess that’s what 27 years of marriage will do to you. The details get pushed out of the way to make way for new details. Sometimes they’re replaced by bigger memories and sometimes it’s the smaller ones that win out. I remember that I couldn’t believe I was going to spend the rest of my life with the beautiful woman asleep in the car, sitting next to me as we drove up the coast for our honeymoon.

Next weekend I have the honor of capturing Jackie and Brad’s wedding. I love this part, the anticipation and planning. All the things I want to do, the shots I want and how I’ll deal with the fading light. So that 27 years from now, they’ll look back and remember bits and pieces about the day they started out as a couple, husband and wife. Here a few pictures from their engagement session. Thanks for reading this and have a great day.iconexposures_200012_0297iconexposures_200012_0166iconexposures_200012_0531

on their way...

on their way...

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